Paul Murphy
Question:73. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Justice her plans to reform the asylum process for refugees from countries other than Ukraine; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16252/22]
View answerTuesday, 29 March 2022
Questions (73)
Oral answers (6 contributions)
There is a massive sense of solidarity among ordinary people with the Ukrainian refugees, who have had no choice but to flee their country and arrive in countries such as Ireland. There is also massive support for the idea that the State must do everything possible to support those people. The question is whether the refugee process will be reformed now so all refugees coming to Ireland receive the same sort of welcome and support, regardless of which country and war they are fleeing and of the colour of their skin.
When mass displacements of people have occurred as a result of violence and conflict in countries such as Syria and Afghanistan, safety and shelter for people forced to flee have largely been provided to them by their closest neighbours. Most people want to return to their homes as soon as it is safe to do so. That is human nature. Staying nearby helps them to feel closer to that goal. It is the same for the people fleeing Ukraine who are clearly strongly patriotic people. This time, however, we in Europe are their closest neighbours. We are stepping up to support them in the same way Jordan, Lebanon and other countries have for their neighbours.
The Ukrainian people want to be as close to their homes as the war will allow. For this reason, the EU has, for the first time in its history, activated the temporary protection directive. This does not replace the international protection system. Any non-EU citizen can still apply for international protection in any EU member state, including Ireland. The application will be processed under the established international and EU asylum law. However, it provides an alternative system designed to be immediately responsive to an unprecedented volume of people in need of temporary protection on Europe’s borders, in a way that supports their wish to return to their homes as soon as it is safe to do so.
People in need of international protection are generally seeking protection from the actions of state authorities in their home country. It may never be safe for them to return home. The situation in Ukraine is different. The displacement of millions of people is driven by the actions of a foreign aggressor. However, people who have fled Ukraine, or any other country, in genuine search of safety and support will find them in Ireland. Assistance will also be provided to people who were legally residing in Ukraine without a permanent residence permit to return to their home country, if it is safe for them to do so.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department continues to work to improve the international protection process and to reduce processing times, in line with the recommendations made by the expert advisory group, led by Dr. Catherine Day, and the commitments in the Government's White Paper, insofar as possible and bearing in mind that the number of people claiming international protection has increased significantly in recent months.
I welcome the processes put in place to assist Ukrainian refugees find accommodation, get a personal public service, PPS, number, access education and healthcare and avail of banking services.
They also gain permission to work in Ireland and to access translation services. The processes and hubs that have been put in place are precisely what are necessary for people who are fleeing a war situation to help them find security and safety while they deal with the trauma of their experiences and their flight to safety.
The point is that all refugees need this type of support. Discrimination on the basis of neighbourhood, which is the same language the Tánaiste used, is completely immoral. The Minister of State is saying people fleeing from Ukraine should be treated differently from people fleeing from Libya, Syria and Afghanistan on the basis of neighbourhood. That is horrendous. These people have all sorts of difficulties. There are delays in issuing temporary residence cards for international protection. Applicants are unable to get PPS numbers. They are unable to access schools and medical cards. This is without even speaking about direct provision. How is this moral? How can the Government stand over it? Surely this needs to be the end of the old system whereby we now treat all refugees in a decent and humane way.
As I set out, an alternative system has been put in place by the European Union under the temporary protection directive. This applies to everybody leaving Ukraine. They can now come to the European Union for this protection. People can come to Ireland for protection when they need it. They can apply under the international protection system in this country. Those supports are being put in place.
An end-to-end review of the relevant international protection processes by a multidisciplinary team from the Department has been completed and published. By October at the latest, the Department will carry out a review of the progress made on reducing and improving processing times. We have also introduced a regularisation scheme, as the Deputy is very much aware. With regard to the international protection system in Ireland, significant progress has been made on implementing the report by Catherine Day and other supports. In particular with regard to Ukraine, the temporary protection directive has been instigated by the European Union.
The Minister of State is saying Ukrainian refugees who come here will not have to go into direct provision. They will be given hubs, PPS numbers and education assistance. These are all the things a refugee needs. It is great. It is brilliant. It is what we need for Ukrainian refugees. At the same time, the Government will continue to say people who come from Syria, Libya or wherever else will go into direct provision. There are more than 6,000 people in direct provision now, including almost 2,000 children. It is a system that takes away people's dignity. It makes people feel worthless. Mr. Bulelani Mfaco of the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland, MASI, has said it is a system with an increasing number of complaints. That people go into direct provision because they are not from our neighbourhood is a racist policy. It is racism to say this country is near us. Ukraine is 3,000 km away. Syria is 4,000 km away. Is this really the basis on which the decision is being made? No, it is a racist decision to continue with direct provision for some while for others the Government does the right thing in terms of treating people in a humane way.
The Government and the Department have introduced a number of very important reforms in the international protection system. We were the only country to introduce a bespoke protection system to be able to bring Afghans to Ireland. We now have a regularisation scheme which is the most generous regularisation scheme of any country in Europe. The Government and the Department have not been found wanting in putting the supports in place and in implementing the report of Catherine Day as quickly as possible.
With regard to Ukrainians, the European Union implemented its temporary protection directive. This is why Ukrainians coming to Ireland or anywhere in the European Union have been given automatic rights on a temporary basis. When the time comes, and the war of aggression and murder by Putin comes to an end, those Ukrainians will want to, and will be able to, go home to rebuild their country.